Press release - February 11, 2010
Brussels, International — The EU could be on the verge of supporting the international listing of bluefin tuna as an endangered species, said Greenpeace today. EU fisheries Commissioner Maria Damanaki is reported by Reuters as backing a suspension in the bluefin tuna trade. In a vote earlier today, the European Parliament joined an overwhelming majority of member states now calling for the listing bluefin of tuna under appendix 1 of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), effectively calling for a suspension of the fishery.
Greenpeace EU oceans policy director Saskia Richartz said: "With the European Parliament, a majority of EU countries and now the fisheries Commissioner calling for a suspension in the bluefin tuna trade, the EU's support for this ban is almost a done deal. If such a ban were enforced efficiently and without delay it could just be enough to pull bluefin tuna back from the brink of collapse."
Richartz added: "The U-turn by fishing giants France and Italy in favour of the protection of bluefin tuna leaves Spain isolated. The carpet has been stripped from under the feet of the EU Spanish presidency."
Italy, France and Spain previously blocked the EU's support for the listing of bluefin tuna as an endangered species. Outgoing EU fisheries Commissioner Joe Borg had also resisted the move in spite of support from then environment Commissioner Stavros Dimas, whose department is in charge of the file.
The EU is expected to adopt a formal position on bluefin tuna before the CITES meeting in Doha on 13-25 March.
Other contacts:
Saskia Richartz – Greenpeace EU oceans policy director:
+32 (0)495 29 00 28 (mobile), 
Mark Breddy – Greenpeace EU communications manager:
+32 (0)496 156229 (mobile), 